Some years ago I was making many porcelain pinch pots and somehow I made one this deep. I always knew I would use it in my work because it was so wonderfully phallic. It hung around the studio for many years until one day I envisioned the tutu part. I'm pleased the piece is confusing, sexy and funny all at the same time.

In 2007 I had the honor of hearing a talk given by Elie Wiesel, a hero of mine. He recounted traveling around the world to visit survivors of genocide. Unable to complete their story without crying, Mr. Wiesel said, "Sometimes he traveled around the world collecting tears". I always knew I would make a bag of tears. I just didn't know what it would look like until 2015.

The original hair shirt was a vest made of ox hair worn in the Middle Ages. The goal of a hair shirt was basically to torture the wearer because of its discomfort against the skin. My intention, fashioned as it is like a contemporary mans shirt is meant to be worn by the investment bankers and stock brokers who caused the 2008 recession.

Hair Shirt, Side View

Hair Suit2011 - 2012Tea Bags, Hair, Clay20" x 15" x 6"

The Hair Suit is a visual pun on the word hirsute which does indeed mean hairy.